Device for handling banknotes comprising a height adjustable user interface

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device ( 10 ) for handling banknotes that comprises a display unit ( 20 ) with a display surface ( 22 ) for displaying at least one graphic user interface ( 28 ) to a user of the device ( 10 ). The user interface ( 28 ) is only displayed in a portion ( 32  to  36 ) of the display surface ( 22 ), whereas this portion ( 32  to  36 ) is adjustable depending on the position of the user relative to the display surface ( 22 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation patent application of U.S. application Ser. No.14/192,959, filed Feb. 28, 2014, which is a continuation patentapplication of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/541,116, filed Jul. 3, 2012,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,714,448, issued May 6, 2014, which claims thebenefit and priority of German Patent Application No. 10 2011 051 543.7,filed Jul. 4, 2011, all of which are incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for handling banknotes, comprising adisplay including a display surface for displaying at least one graphicuser interface to a user of the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The device is in particular an automated teller machine by means ofwhich banknotes are dispensed to a user and/or banknotes can bedeposited in the automated teller machine by the user. For this purposeseveral graphic user interfaces are displayed via a display unit to theuser, by means of which the user can control the device. In particularvia such graphic user interfaces the user can be requested to carry outthe individual steps that are necessary for depositing and/or dispensingthe banknotes.

The problem with known automated teller machines is that these comprisestationary display units with a preset fixed height. Thus, it can be thecase that users who are extraordinarily tall or extraordinarily smallmay have difficulties reading the display unit. Moreover, automatedteller machines are known that can be operated from a vehicle. Asvehicles as well can have different seat heights there is also theproblem that the position of the user relative to the display unit isdifferent depending on the vehicle and thus in this case also problemscan occur with regard to reading the display unit.

In order to solve this problem it is possible to provide display unitsthat are height adjustable mechanically and/or that are pivoted about anaxis of rotation, so that the direction of the display surface isadjustable relative to the user. Such devices are for example known fromdocuments U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,079 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,917 B2, U.S.Pat. No. 7,644,039 B1 and US 2010/0126805. The problem with suchmechanically adjustable display units is that they are quitefailure-prone and they require a cost-intensive installation.

It is the object of the invention to specify a device for handlingbanknotes which can be operated easily by persons in different heights.

According to the invention the graphic user interface is only shown in aportion of the display surface with this portion being adjustabledepending on the position of the user relative to the display surface.Thus, it is achieved that the height in which the user interface isdisplayed can be adjusted to the height of the user without requiring tomechanically adjust the display unit itself.

As a position of the user in particular a height of the head of the useris determined, and depending on this determined height of the user theheight of the user interface is adjusted by means of selecting therespective portion of the display surface that is displayed via the userinterface.

The device for handling banknotes is in particular an automated tellermachine. The user can operate the device when standing in front of thedevice or when sitting in a vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises a sensorunit for determining the position of the user. A control unit of thedevice determines in dependence of the position determined via thesensor unit the portion in which the display unit displays the userinterface. The sensor unit is particularly designed such that by meansof it the body height and/or the height of the user and/or the height ofa vehicle in which the user is sitting and/or the height of the head ofthe user can be determined. In the control unit in particular acorrelation rule is stored, that assigns a portion to each respectivedetermined body height or height, in which the user interface is to bedisplayed. The control unit controls the display unit such that itdisplays the user interface in this area determined by means of thecorrelation rule.

Additionally or alternatively the device can be provided with at leastone operating unit by means of which the user can adjust the portion inwhich the user interface is displayed. In case such an operating unit isprovided additionally to the sensor unit the user can adjust the portionif it does not suit the individual requirements. In particular, by meansof such an operating unit the user can adjust at any time the optimaldisplay height.

Furthermore, the device can comprise a card reading unit for reading amagnetic stripe card and/or a chip card, wherein on the magnetic stripecard and/or on the chip card data are stored with information on apreset preferred portion for displaying the user interface, which can beread out by means of the card reading unit. The control unit controlsthe device in dependence of these data such that the user interface isdisplayed in the preset portion. Alternatively, instead of a presetportion the body height of the user who owns the magnetic stripe card orthe chip card can also be stored on the magnetic stripe card or on thechip card, whereas in this case the control unit determines the portionin dependence of the stored height. Moreover, a data base can be storedin the control unit in which the magnetic stripe card and/or the chipcard and/or the user is assigned to the preferred section.

The display unit comprises in particular a touch screen, so that thedisplay unit serves at the same time as an input unit, and the user cancontrol the device in a simple way intuitively by means of touching theselection menu displayed via the graphic user interface. Alternatively,the display unit can be a monitor by means of which no input ispossible.

Further, it is advantageous when at least two positions for the portionby means of which the user interface is displayed are preset, and whenin dependence of the position of the user one of these preset positionsis selected for displaying the user interface. In an especiallypreferred embodiment of the invention three positions for the portionare preset. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the portioncan be moved continuously, particularly line by line, within the displaysurface.

In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention the displaysurface is rectangular and thus has a first side with a first sidelength and a second side with a second side length. The user interfaceis rectangular as well and has a third side with a third side length anda fourth side with a third side length and a fourth side with a fourthside length, with the first side and the third side being parallel toeach other. Preferably the first side length and the third side lengthare equal, and the second side length is larger than the fourth sidelength. Thus, it is achieved that the user interface is displayed overthe entire width of the display unit, but only a part of the height ofthe display surface is used. In particular, the user interface has theformat 16:9.

The first side is arranged horizontally in an operating arrangement ofthe device, so that the first side length indicates the width of thedisplay unit and the second side length indicates the height of thedisplay unit. The operating arrangement is the arrangement in which thedevice is arranged when it is installed for regular operation.

Preferably, the second side length is an integral multiple, especiallythree times the fourth side length. Thus, several positions can bepreset for the user interface without the respective sectionsoverlapping.

In particular, several portions of the display surface for displayingthe user interface are preset, wherein the number of the presentportions corresponds to the relation of the second side length to thefourth side length, and wherein the sections are preset withoutoverlapping.

Further, it is advantageous if along the second side of the displaysurface and/or along a fifth side of the display surface opposite to thesecond side a multitude of keys is arranged for selecting controlinformation displayed by means of the user interface. In particular, bymeans of these keys the desired cash sum can be selected. A control unitof the device activates in dependence of the portion in which the userinterface is displayed a subset of the keys arranged adjacent to thisportion and/or deactivates the remaining keys. Thus, in each case onlythe keys that are arranged next to the user interface are usable for theinput of information. Furthermore, by providing such a multitude of keysit is possible to select the control information displayed via the userinterface, independent of the portion in which the user interface isdisplayed.

The sensor comprises in particular a camera for taking at least onepicture of an image of the detecting area. The control unit controls astored image processing program by means of which the control unitdetects the position of the user. In particular, by means of the controlunit an image of the head of the user in the image is detected. For thiscase in particular a known face recognition method can be used. In analternative embodiment of the invention by means of the camera severalpictures can be taken in a time-delayed manner and these pictures can betaken into consideration for detecting the position. Further, severalcameras can be provided, in particular two cameras that form a stereocamera system and can be used for determining the position of the user.

The operating unit, by means of which the user can vary the displayheight of the user interface, that means the portion in which the userinterface is displayed, comprises in particular a first and a secondkey, wherein the first key serves to move the portion in a firstdirection and the second key serves to move the portion in a seconddirection opposite to the first direction. Thus, the height in which theuser interface is displayed can be controlled by the user intuitively ina simple manner, without requiring any knowledge of the operation of thedevice.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from thefollowing description which in connection with the enclosed Figuresexplains the invention in more detail with reference to embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a device for handling banknotesaccording to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a head module of the deviceaccording to FIG. 1 in a first operating state;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the head module according toFIG. 2 in a second operating state;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of the head module according toFIGS. 2 and 3 in a third operating state;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a head module of a device forhandling banknotes according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a schematic view of a device 10 for handling banknotes isshown. The device 10 is in particular an automated teller machine,wherein the automated teller machine 10 can be a mere cash depositmachine, a mere cash dispensing machine or as well a cash recyclingmachine, in which banknotes can be deposited or dispensed.Alternatively, the device 10 can also be an automatic cash safe or anautomatic cash register system.

The device 10 has a head module 12 that in particular comprises akeyboard 14, a card reading unit 16 for reading magnetic stripe cardsand/or chip cards, an input/output compartment 18 and a display unit 20.The keyboard 14 serves to enter information by a user, in particular toenter the PIN belonging to the magnetic stripe card or chip card and/orthe desired cash sum.

In FIG. 1 only a slot of the card reading unit 16 is visible, throughwhich the magnetic stripe card and/or the chip card is inserted by theuser before it is read out by the card reading unit, i.e. that datastored on the magnetic stripe of the magnetic stripe card and/or chipcard and/or on the chip of the magnetic stripe card and/or chip card areread out by the card reading unit 16.

During operation different user interfaces are displayed to the user viathe display unit 20, through which the user can control the device 10.In particular, by means of a corresponding user interface afterinserting the magnetic stripe card and/or chip card the user isrequested to enter the PIN via the keyboard 14. Subsequently, by meansof the display unit 20, that is in particular designed as a touchscreen,the user can select what he or she intends to do. In particular, theuser is shown several possibilities by means of the corresponding userinterface via the display unit 20 that can be executed by the device 10.For example, the user can select to withdraw money from the account. Inthis case by means of a user interface that is preset correspondingly,the user is shown several preset amounts of money, wherein the user canselect the desired amount of money by touching the touchscreen on therespective point, or he or she can enter a different amount of money viathe keyboard 14.

Subsequently, a control unit 21 controls the device 10 such thatbanknotes are removed from the cash boxes according to the requiredamount of money and are handed out via the input and/or outputcompartment 18 to the user.

The display unit 20 is arranged stationarily, in particular the positionof the display unit 20 and/or its arrangement are not adapted, as is thecase with the known device 10, to the height of the user. Instead, asshown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the user interface 28 is only displayed in aportion of the display surface 22 of the display unit 20, and thisportion is correspondingly adapted to the position, in particular to theheight of the user of the device 10. In the first operating state shownin FIG. 2 the user interface 28 is displayed in a first portion 32, inthe operating state shown in FIG. 3 in a second portion 34, and in athird operating state in a third portion 36 of the display surface 22.For this purpose the rectangular display surface 22 is accordinglylarger than is the case in known devices for handling banknotes, so thatthe user interface 28 is displayed to the user in a known size and onlythe position on the display surface 22 is changed.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, also more than threeportions 32 to 36, in which the user interface 28 can be displayed, canbe preset. In the same way, only two portions can be preset. Moreover,alternatively it is possible that no fixed portions are preset, but thatthe portion in which the user interface 28 is displayed, is adaptedcontinuously to the position of the user.

The display surface 22 has in particular a first side 24 with a firstside length and a second side 26 with a second side length. Accordingly,the user interface 28 is preset in a rectangular shape and has a thirdside 40 with a third side length and a fourth side 42 with a fourth sidelength. In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 the first sidelength and the third side length are identical and are directedhorizontally. The fourth side length is designed smaller than the secondside length. In particular, the second side length corresponds threetimes the fourth side length, so that the three portions 32 to 36 do notoverlap. In an alternative embodiment the third side length can also besmaller than the first side length.

The device 10 has a sensor 50 by means of which the position of the userin front of the device 10 can be detected. In particular, by means ofthe sensor 50 the height of the user can be detected, wherein thecontrol unit of the device 10 determines, depending on the determinedheight, the portion 32 to 36, in which the user interface 28 isdisplayed.

In the control unit in particular a data base is stored in which fordifferent preset areas of the determined height of the user the section32 to 36 is assigned in which in the respective case the user interface28 is to be displayed. The control unit determines by means of this database the respective section 32 to 36 and controls the display unit 20such that the user interface 28 is displayed in the determined section32 to 36.

In particular, the sensor 50 comprises a camera by means of whichpictures with images of a detection area are taken. The control unitexecutes a preset image processing program and on this basis determinesthe position of the user, preferably the position of the head of theuser. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor 50 can also comprise anultrasound sensor and/or at least one light barrier by means of whichthe position of the user is determined.

Furthermore, the device has an operating unit 56 comprising two keys 52,54 by means of which the user of the device can adjust the portion 32 to36 in which the user interface 28 is displayed. In particular, by meansof the sensor 50 the portion 32 to 36 is determined in which the userinterface 28 is displayed. The user can then scroll the user interface28 via the keys 52, 54 upwards and downwards. By doing so, the scrollingcan take place continuously or rapidly from one section 32 to 36 to anadjacent section 32 to 36.

The operating unit 56, through which the portion 32 to 36 and/or thedisplay height of the operating surface can be varied by the user canalso comprise a control dial and/or a rocker switch.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention no sensor 50 can beprovided, but the adjustment of the section 32 to 36 can take place bymeans of the operating unit 56 exclusively. Furthermore, in the magneticstripe and/or the chip of the magnetic stripe and/or the chip card ofthe user data with information on a preferred portion 32 to 36 fordisplaying the user interface 28 can be stored. The card reading unit 16reads out these data and the control unit controls the display unit 20dependently from the read out data such that it displays the userinterface 28 in the preset preferred section 32 to 36. Further,additionally or alternatively on the chip and/or the magnetic stripe ofthe magnetic stripe card and/or chip card the height of the user and/orthe height of a vehicle driven by the user can be stored, and thecontrol unit can determine, depending on this stored body height orheight, the optimal section 32 to 36 and can control the display unit 20such that the user interface 28 in this section 32 to 36 is displayed.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a head module 60 of a device 10for handling banknotes according to a second embodiment. In this secondembodiment the display unit 20 is not a touch screen, but a monitor bymeans of which only information can be displayed, but it does notcomprise a touch sensitive surface.

In this case along the second side 26 and the fifth side 62 opposite tothe second side 26 of the display surface 22 three input units areillustrated, each comprising three keys. One of these input units isexemplarily identified with the reference sign 64, one of the keysexemplarily with the reference 66. In each case two of the input units64 are assigned to one of the portion 32 to 36. Thus, via the keys ofthe respective input unit 64 a selection can be made, irrespective ofthe section 32 to 36 in which the user interface is displayed, withregard to the alternatives displayed by the user interface 28. Thus, anespecially simple and comfortable handling is achieved despite varyingthe sections 32 to 36.

The control unit in particular activates only those input units 64 thatare assigned to the section 32 to 36, in which the user interface 28 iscurrently displayed. The remaining input units 64 that are not arrangedadjacent to this section 32 to 36 are deactivated by the control unit16.

In the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4 in particular only theportion 32 to 36 of the touch screen 20 is activated in which the userinterface 28 is momentarily displayed, i.e. only in this portion 32 to36 the sensors for detecting the touch of the surface of the touchscreen 20 are activated and detect a corresponding touch. In theremaining portions 32 to 36 of the touch screen 20 the touch is notdetected. Alternatively, however the touch in the portion in which theuser interface 28 is not displayed can be detected, but then the device10 does not execute demands.

By means of the software-based varying of the display height of the userinterface 28 described above it is achieved that a mechanical adjustmentof the display unit 20 is not necessary, thus solving the risk ofinjuries and/or the sealing of the moving components. In particular, anergonomically favorable display of the user interface 28 relative to theuser of the device 10 is possible. Thus, for example extraordinarilytall or small persons as well as wheelchair users or users sitting invehicles of different height can operate the device 10 easily.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of communicating between an automaticteller machine (ATM) and a user located next to the ATM, said methodcomprising: providing a vertically elongated display; generating agraphic user interface; sensing a physical characteristic of the user;and moving the graphic user interface about the display as a function ofthe sensed physical characteristic of the user.
 2. A device for handlingbanknotes, comprising: a display surface for displaying at least onegraphic user interface to a user of the device; wherein the graphic userinterface is positioned for display only in a portion of the displaysurface; wherein the portion of the display surface is automaticallychosen based on a position of the user relative to the display surface;and wherein the portion is chosen from a preset range of display surfacepositions.
 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein a sensor unit isprovided for determining the position of the user and wherein a controlunit determines the portion as a function of an output of the sensorunit.
 4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device furthercomprises a card reading unit for reading a magnetic stripe card and/ora chip card that reads out data with information on a preset preferredportion of the display unit for displaying the user interface, the databeing stored on the magnetic stripe card or the chip card and wherein acontrol unit chooses the portion of the display surface for displayingthe user interface from the stored data.
 5. The device according toclaim 2, wherein the position of the user is the height of the userand/or the height of a vehicle in which the user sits.
 6. The deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the display surface is rectangular and hasa first side with a first side length and a second side with a secondside length, wherein the user interface is rectangular and has a thirdside with a third side length and a fourth side with a fourth sidelength, wherein the first side and the third side are parallel to eachother, wherein the first side length and the third side length areequal, and wherein the second side length is larger than the fourth sidelength.
 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein at least twoportions of the display surface for displaying the user interface arepreset, the number of the preset portions corresponding to therelationship of the of the second side length to the fourth side length,and wherein the preset portions do not overlap.
 8. The device accordingto claim 6, wherein along the second side of the display surface and/oralong a fifth side of the display surface opposite of the second side amultitude of keys for selecting control information displayed by theuser interface are arranged, and wherein a control unit of the device,depending on the portion in which the user interface is displayed,activates a subset of the keys arranged adjacent to the portion on whichthe user interface is displayed and/or deactivates the remaining keys.9. The device according to claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises acamera for taking at least one picture with an image of a detection areaincluding the user, and wherein the control unit processes the imagewith an image processing program for determining the position of theuser.
 10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus comprises anautomated teller machine.
 11. A device for handling banknotes,comprising: a display unit with a display surface for displaying atleast one graphic user interface to a user of the device; and a controlunit for controlling the display unit such that it displays the userinterface; wherein the user interface is displayed in a location withina path of travel relative to the display surface; wherein the locationof the user interface is automatically adjustable within the path oftravel based on characteristics associated with a position of the userrelative to the display surface; and wherein the adjustable location isdetermined by a correlation rule based, in part, on the characteristicsassociated with the position of the user.
 12. The device according toclaim 11, wherein a sensor unit is provided for determining thecharacteristics associated with the user and wherein the control unitdetermines the position of the user interface as a function of an outputof the sensor unit.
 13. The device according to claim 11, wherein thecharacteristics are user height and/or the height of a vehicle in whichthe user sits.
 14. The device according to claim 12, wherein at leasttwo positions of the user interface are driven by a correlation rule.15. A device for handling banknotes, comprising: a display unit with adisplay surface for displaying at least one graphic user interface to auser of the device; wherein the user interface is automaticallydisplayed in a preset frame of reference corresponding with a portion ofthe display surface; wherein the preset frame of reference isautomatically selectable based on a position of the user relative to thedisplay surface; and wherein the preset frame of reference can beadjusted by the user.
 16. The device according to claim 15, wherein asensor unit is provided for determining the position of the userrelative to the display surface.
 17. The device according to claim 16,wherein a correlation rule determines the position of the user interfacewithin the frame of reference as a function of an output of the sensorunit.
 18. The device according to claim 15, wherein the device furthercomprises a card reading unit for reading a magnetic stripe card and/ora chip card that reads out data with information on a preferred portionof the display unit for displaying the user interface, the data beingstored on the magnetic stripe card or the chip card and wherein acontrol unit of the device determines the position of the user interfacedepending on this data.
 19. The device according to claim 15, whereinthe position of the user is based on the user height and/or the heightof a vehicle in which the user sits.
 20. The method of claim 1 whereinthe physical characteristic is the position of the user relative to theATM.